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COWPOX Note for Pet Owners:
This information is provided by
Provet for educational purposes only.
You should seek the advice of
your veterinarian if your pet is ill as only he or she can correctly advise
on the diagnosis and recommend the treatment that is most appropriate for
your pet.
Cowpox virus can
be transmitted to humans, and so this disease is a zoonosis. Proper hygienic
precautions such as washing hands thoroughly should be taken after contact
with animals which could be carrying the disease, especially children and
people with impaired immune function. Gloves must be worn when handling
infected animals.
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Description
The contagious virus responsible for Cowpox in cattle can also affect other
species including humans, small wild mammals and cats. There is only one
reported case of cowpox affecting a dog. Signs of the disease include skin
lesions (nodules, scabs and ulcers), eye problems (conjunctivitis) and
respiratory signs (pneumonia). Cowpox in cats occurs mainly in Europe and Asia.
Cause
Th
The virus is resistant in the environment surviving many months under dry conditions.
Breed Occurrence
Dairy cattle are at greater risk than others.
In cats there is no breed predisposition to infection, but predators (eg cats) that catch infected small wild animals (especially gerbils, ground squirrels, voles, wood mice) which act as a reservoir for the disease are at greater risk of contracting the disease.
Signs
Typical signs of cowpox virus infection include :
- Cattle
- Incubation period about 3-6 days
- Scabby pox lesions (1-2 cm) and ulcers on the teats and udder
- Most cows in a herd will be infected
- Secondary mastitis develops in some cases
- Calves - get lesions in the mouth
- Bulls - get lesions on the scrotum
- Cats
- Many infected cats may not show any signs.
- Widespread scabby skin lesions
- Sometimes a single scabby skin lesion
- Conjunctivitis occurs in some cats
- Mouth ulcers and vesicles occur in some cats
- Usual site of the skin lesions initially is the head, neck and foreleg, but generalised secondary nodules, ulcers and scabs form over a 4-5 day period and dry leaving bald patches which may or may not regrow hair.
- Depression
- High body temperature
- Inappetance
- Diarrhoea
- Pneumonia if cat is immune-compromised - grave prognosis
Human Cowpox is rare (1-2 cases are reported per year in the UK). Cats are thought to be a main source of infection but direct contact with infected cattle is also a common source of infection. Signs in humans are most likely to occur in people with poor immunity or pre-existing skin disease and they include :
- Painful skin - with scabby lesions - usually on the hands or face
- General malaise - if they are viraemic
- Fever
- Death - very rare
Complications
Diagnosis
Diagnosis can be made by :
- Isolating Cowpox virus from scabs collected from skin lesions.
- Measuring blood antibodies (fluorescent antibody test)
Treatment
Most cats and cattle recover without treatment.
- There is no specific treatment for Cowpox virus, and no vaccine.
- Antibiotics may help to control secondary bacterial infections.
- The environment should be disinfected with hypochlorite solution (bleach)
Prognosis
In cattle the prognosis is good because it produces a mild, localised infection
in most individuals
Good in cats with skin lesions and no viraemia, but poor if severely affected and pneumonia develops.
Updated January 2016